Autumn Love

Awake beside me and hoping
She will not notice the change
Of breathing brought by myself
Slowly slipping out of unconsciousness
That I may remain undisturbed
Beside her and drifting; drifting
Slowly towed in the wake
Of sleep; sleep and dream.

She moves closer, my love
Arising in the cool morning,
Still dark, wind thru threes
Whispering warnings of autumn
Chills brought by those same winds
Pushing summer away
Through scattered leaves changed
Shades of brown, orange, red.

The winds seep in through
Invisible openings around windows
And doors, through my defenses
She slips her fingers, icy
To match the dawn winds.
I turn to steel myself in response,
Responding to her shivering touch,
Touching my face with cool care.

Her caress makes me drowsy,
She sighs a gentle dream down
The back of my neck, standing
Hairs and goose bumps across
The entire plane of myself
Mostly hidden under down and cotton.
I will myself back into a dream,
Dreaming of this same sigh.